The Words of the Lu Family
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The Words of the Lu Family |
Question: What were True Mother's expectations for the first anniversary of Foundation Day?
After I was appointed to this leadership position, the first thing that Mother said to me was that every single year from now on, she will guide the Unification family through two big events, Foundation Day and the anniversary of True Father's ascension.
True Mother then mentioned that Foundation Day is not just a church event or a church celebration but something of a Cheon Il Guk festival that anyone can take part in. Fundamentally, it is not for church members only. As for future anniversaries of Father's ascension, such as the second or third anniversary, it should become an event to let people know of the many accomplishments and results Father achieved in his lifetime. Mother also instructed that the second anniversary of Father's ascension become an event that reveals Father's achievements centered on North America and South America. In order to move in that direction, Mother instructed that Foundation Day be celebrated as a festival for all blessed families and to celebrate it, if possible, with ambassadors for peace and those connected to us.
Mother was actually disappointed at the end of Foundation Day and Father's ascension last year, particularly with Korea. What she expected was an event that the government and society recognized. In other words, True Mother had hoped that this Foundation Day anniversary be an event of this type.
This time, during the Segye Times' twenty-fifth anniversary, eighty members of the National Assembly' from both the governing party and opposition parties participated. In addition, three government ministers, from the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Security and Public Administration attended the event.
When Christopher Hill 2 spoke at the National Assembly, twenty-three members of the National Assembly attended his lecture.
Knowing True Mother's expectations, the Korean church headquarters, under my direction, could bring about such results because they held on to absolute faith.
Question: Please elaborate on "holding on to absolute faith."
I was inaugurated on October 26. We roughly had a hundred days until Foundation Day, not even a full four months. Having a short time, our only option was to prepare with absolute faith. After my inauguration, the headquarters went through many changes, too. With the new leadership, over half of the directors had changed. I visited sixty churches during this time. I set up a hundred-day condition for us to witness to all those with whom we had connections before Foundation Day.
We also had to prepare for the Foundation Day events themselves. It was a situation where I had to move forward trusting True Parents and the heads of providential organizations. I had three meetings with the heads of providential organizations. I also had three meetings with executive staff members among the ranks of directors in these providential organizations.
The headquarters did not set up a plan by itself and one-sidedly give instructions on how the events were to be conducted. We asked each providential organization what they were capable of doing. After collecting all the ideas, we prepared for the Foundation Day events.
The biggest challenge was the shortage of time. I had to report to True Mother every day and receive instructions from her directly. I also had meetings with the regional presidents through conference calls.
Not only was the time short but many changes had taken place within the organization. We had twenty fewer people working here than before. Everything was difficult in that state. We had no option but to move in faith, faith in True Parents.
Before
the Blessing Ceremony, a U.S. broadcasting company, ABC News,
interviewing Rev. Lu; Mr. Sakuwa, our member, is translating.
Question: In what ways were the various organizations represented?
For example, the Segye Times, UPF, WFWP, Youth Federation for World Peace, PWPA, Sun Moon University, etc. -- twenty-eight events were conducted this time. However, the headquarters was not in charge of all these events. Providential organizations each prepared an event for Foundation Day to cause what True Parents desired to materialize; hence, meetings were necessary to coordinate everything and join hands. Under these circumstances, we could all unite more closely than at any other time.
Question: Was there a sense that Father was working behind the scenes?
Before I became the president of FFWPU-Korea, I attended our Top Gun workshop. During this workshop Hyo Jin nim appeared many times to me and worked spiritually with me. While preparing for Foundation Day, this time, too, Hyo Jin nim often appeared spiritually.
In addition, many other members also felt other True Children, blessed members and elder members that are in the spiritual world working among them. When I report about different things to True Mother, I felt on many occasions that True Father was behind True Mother, working with her.
What I felt is that True Father is in True Mother and that True Parents are together.... The spiritual world is not something that is separate and distant. I felt that when True Parents are together much more is achieved. I experienced Father's great interest and Father working with Mother more than at any other time.
This may become a personal testimony, but when Hyo Jin nim was still alive, he really loved me and often looked for me. He is in the spiritual world now, but he still spiritually works a lot with me now.
Two months before Hyo Jin nim passed away, around forty second-generation members met to celebrate Hyo Jin nim's birthday. We congratulated Hyo Jin nim in this way every year. This time, we will hold the sixth music festival to honor Hyo Jin nim through music. This type of event is not organized out of thin air just like that.
Question: What do you expect the regional presidents and national leaders to take away from this experience?
I worked as an overseas missionary for three years in Russia, Ukraine and Croatia. In light of this, I thought about what leaders in the field would need from participating in this event. So, during this Foundation Day anniversary celebration, regional presidents and national leaders were all given the best seats in all the main events. The reason we did this so was to enable them to feel True Parents' love and thereby be able to convey it to their members.
We also considered how to make the regional presidents part of the program at as many events as possible.
In addition, a victory celebration was held the day after the main Blessing Ceremony and the first anniversary of Foundation Day. A PowerPoint presentation with the photographs from all the events was made and presented in front of True Mother. This PowerPoint presentation was given to all the leaders. Additionally, although it is in the Korean language, an eighteen-minute video that covers all the events conducted was also given to all leaders.
When it comes to Vision 2020, leaders outside of Korea would all probably wonder how Korea plans to move ahead towards Vision 2020. Because of overlapping schedules, the vice-president of FFWPU-Korea gave a presentation on our plan instead of me. He presented the overall flow and details of projects though which Korea is planning to pursue Vision 2020.
World National Leaders Assembly 2014 had a much bigger budget than in past years, yet the organization committee supported everything to ensure that all leaders are well educated.
In short, one thing I deeply felt about this Foundation Day is that Heaven prepares many things for us and I could gain confidence that we can achieve greater results if we work hard.